Typical basketball manager typical responsibilities include things like handling equipment, keeping stats, and monitoring warm-ups. And Villanova Women’s Basketball manager Rachel Grace, from North Wales, certainly does that. But as Charles Fox reported in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Grace is no typical basketball manager.

Grace — or RG, as she’s known — is something of a CMO for the Women’s Wildcats, a chief morale officer. The fact that she has Down’s syndrome is a nonissue.

Pregames, she’s all chest-bumps, high fives, and handshakes amid a dervish of choreographed moves to pump up the players and the crowd.

To the team, she’s become an emotional anchor, tamping down anxiety when the scoring sags and lifting spirits more if results happen to worsen.

Her mother characterizes her court-side contribution as “…a level of humanity that settles everyone.”

The players agree.

“She just brings an energy to the locker room, the pregame, and to practice … a different vibe,” commented Brooke Mullin. “She sees us as her sisters. And she’s our sister too.”

Kaitlyn Orihel praised, “She brings so many laughs, so much energy to us. And we love having her around. If we’re tired or having a tough day and she walks in rapping and dancing. It just lightens up your day.”

More on Rachel Grace (RG) is at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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Villanova Women’s Basketball 2023 highlight reel.